Exeter MP lends support to employment initiative
Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw met the Recruit Princesshay team last Friday (2 December), to hear about the successes of the employment initiative launched back in March 2016.
Since it started in the spring Recruit Princesshay has:
- Seen 193 local people hae register on the scheme
- Held 6 employability workshops, attended by over 40 people in total
- Successfully placed 18 local people into long term employment
- Worked with 50 businesses, including, Reiss, Hotel Chocolat and Debenhams, to help them source appropriate candidates to their workforces
- Hosted a job fair in October, attended by over 120 Job seekers.
Mr Bradshaw was introduced to two recently recruited employees now working in Princesshay while also hearing more from the team behind Recruit Princesshay, which includes The Crown Estate (the owners of Princesshay Shopping Centre), which established the scheme, and its delivery partner, South West based Community Interest Company, SBA.
Wilma Barnes attended a recruit Princesshay jobs fair in October, followed by an employability workshop. This then led to Wilma taking on a seasonal sales assistant role at Hotel Chocolat at Princesshay.
Wilma said: "I've had a really positive experience working with Recruit Princesshay that ultimately helped me secure my current position at Hotel Chocolat. The service matches you with a short list of available positions while also helping you prepare for interviews and become job ready. I would recommend it to anyone looking to find work in Exeter."
Launched in spring 2016, Recruit Princesshay, initiated by The Crown Estate, which owns the Shopping Centre in partnership with TH Real Estate, aims to find candidates who live in Exeter and the Heart of Devon.
The service organises interview and assessment days on the companies' behalf, so that candidates with relevant skills and experience will be put forward. Tailored training is also delivered to the candidates in partnership with employers based in the area.
Ben Bradshaw MP said: "Exeter is a dynamic city and there are opportunities out there for all those looking for work. Recruit Princesshay provides a fantastic service, helping local people to access these opportunities, develop their skills and job readiness and find work.
"Well done to the team behind Recruit Princesshay and all those candidates who've found work so far. I'm sure there will be even more success stories to celebrate in coming months."
Faheem Quereshi, Head of Employment Generation at The Crown Estate: "After eight months it's great to see the hard work of everyone involved with Recruit Princesshay translating into employment opportunities for local people.
"We held our first Jobs Fair in Exeter last month and had a fantastic sign up rate so I'm looking forward to seeing even more people moving into work as the scheme continues to match skilled candidates with local businesses looking to bolster their teams."
Recruit Princesshay builds on the successful Recruit London, which has seen a partnership of organisations including Westminster City Council, London based charity Cross River Partnership and businesses including The Crown Estate, secure jobs for over 1,500 local unemployed people.
The Crown Estate is also delivering a similar work placement scheme at Fosse Park in Leicester and Crowngate in Worcester.
As part of this service, work place mentoring and training is also provided to every candidate for six months after the initial appointment.
